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Fire at Wil

Wil Anderson

Stan · 2017 · 74 min

A fast-paced set targeting Australian politics and cultural hypocrisies.

Wil Anderson begins this set by lamenting a devastating professional loss: the ousting of Prime Minister Tony Abbott, which instantly wiped out months of prime political material. Having spent years dividing his time between Australia and America, Anderson uses this hour to focus entirely on the absurdities of his home country. He delivers his trademark high-energy commentary on stage at Melbourne’s Comedy Theatre, tackling the national obsession with long weekends alongside the Johnny Depp dog-smuggling saga.

The special originally premiered in 2017 as part of the streaming service Stan’s ‘One Night Stan’ series. A veteran of the Australian comedy circuit and long-time host of ABC’s Gruen, Anderson brings a journalist’s eye to the stage. He tackles heavier social issues, including the controversy surrounding indigenous AFL player Adam Goodes and the debate over Australia Day, with a self-aware approach that acknowledges his own leftist biases while keeping the audience laughing. Other bits include a story about a mistaken identity Twitter exchange and a riff on waiting out the Queen’s reign before declaring a republic.

The set list

5 bits

  1. Tony Abbott's political downfall to Malcolm Turnbull

    Riffs on how Tony Abbott was an endless comedic gift compared to Malcolm Turnbull being far less fruitful for comedy.

  2. The crowd booing AFL player Adam Goodes

    Tackles racism in sport while dissecting and qualifying non-racist reasons people claimed to boo.

  3. Navigating the buffet toaster in the Qantas Lounge

    Executes a slapstick first-hand observational routine about trying to get the perfectly browned slice of toast.

  4. Latecomer working for Yellow Pages

    Banter with an audience member regarding their obsolete occupation, repeatedly dropping 'Yellow Pages' into subsequent jokes.

  5. Baby giraffes

    Silly observational routine contrasting with his broader political material.

How it plays

Tone
Satirical, wry, political, observant, and irreverent.
On stage
An openly left-leaning, honest, slightly manic, witty, and rousing 'matey' persona with meticulous preparation.
Pace
A sharp, fiery, and pacy torrent of jokes delivered at high momentum.
About
Australian party politics, Racism and Indigenous affairs, Australia Day vs Invasion Day, AFL controversies, Modern Australiana

What the critics said

Praised for dense joke counts, sharp wit, and polished delivery, though some reviewers felt the political commentary leaned broad or preachy.

In the room: Energetic room dynamic with impulsive outbursts, banter, and constant uproars from the audience.

Summed up from reviews, articles and listings. Sources: stan.com.au, theaureview.com, movies-series.lore-le.ch, tvtonight.com.au, smh.com.au, chortle.co.uk, glamadelaide.com.au, girtby.com, en.wikipedia.org, token.com.au.

Backstory

Filmed as the premiere episode of Stan's six-part original standup showcase series 'One Night Stan', dedicated to Australian comedians.

Details

Released
Taped
Comedy Theatre, Melbourne
Runtime
74 min
Where
Stan
Honors
Five-time Winner – People’s Choice Award Melbourne Comedy Festival
Topics

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